A member of the media uses phone as a screen displays the presidential debate, as Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attend a presidential debate hosted by ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump remain in a tight contest across seven battleground states with just over two weeks until the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, a Washington Post/Schar School opinion poll showed on Monday.
Democratic former prosecutor Harris led among likely voters in Georgia 51% to 47%, while Republican Trump was slightly ahead in Arizona with 49% to 46%. Both findings fell within the plus or minus 4.5 percentage points margin of error in the poll, which surveyed 5,016 registered voters from Sept. 30 to Oct. 15.
Harris, who became the party's candidate after President Joe Biden stepped aside in July, also had an edge in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin -- three states where she will campaign later on Monday with Republican former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney.
Trump led in North Carolina and was tied with Harris in Nevada 48% to 48%, according to the poll. The former president will hold a rally in North Carolina later on Monday after surveying recent damage from Hurricane Helene.
Trump, 78, is making his third consecutive White House bid after losing to Biden in 2020. He continues to falsely blame widespread voter fraud and faces federal and state criminal charges over efforts to overturn the election results, among other charges. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Harris, 60, is a former San Francisco prosecutor, state attorney general and U.S. senator seeking to rebuild the party's diverse coalition of young voters, women and people of color as well as pick up some Republicans disillusioned with Trump.
Monday's findings from the Post and George Mason Univeristy's Schar School of Policy and Government echoed other recent polls that found a neck and neck race in the seven battleground states ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5, even as Harris holds an edge nationwide, according to some surveys.
Overall, 49% of likely voters said they support Harris and 48% backed Trump, the Post poll showed. Among registered voters, Reuters/Ipsos polling last week found Harris holding a steady, marginal 45% to 42% lead over Trump.
However, state-by-state results of the Electoral College will determine the winner of November's contest. The seven battleground states are likely to decisive, with surveys of their likely voters offering an indication of the race so far.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama andJonathan Oatis)
